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"We will also be providing them with the information we have collected from our initial inquiries as they begin the investigation to determine the cause of the crash," Mr Baskett said.

Police have referred the incident to the coroner.

John Sinclair, executive officer of the New Zealand Helicopter Association, said Mr Robb was a "very experienced pilot, well-respected in the industry".

The chopper had been spraying farmland in the remote rural area, close to State Highway 3 at Kai Iwi, police said. It came down on Koatanui Rd, in steep hill country.

The Fire Service has been clearing fuel spilled across the road and investigators from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) were expected to arrive by mid-afternoon. The accident scene has been cordoned off. A spokesman said it was too early to comment on how the crash might have happened.